Deputies: Man in Pasco used candy to lure children

The Pasco County Sheriff's Office is warning parents about a man who used candy to lure two 9-year-old children behind a vacant home in New Port Richey. Authorities say he sexually touched at least one of the children.

The incident occurred at 8 p.m. Friday in the 6000 block of Ninth Avenue. After luring a boy and a girl out of sight, a man asked them to play a game checking out what was inside his pocket.

Realizing the contact was inappropriate, the children screamed and fled on their bicycles, sheriff's spokeswoman Melanie Snow said.

Both children were scared but otherwise unharmed, she said. Authorities are trying to identify the man. He is believed to be anywhere from his late 50s to his early 70s and had gray hair. He had a medium to large build. He was driving a four-door maroon sport utility vehicle.